9 Day Bird Watching Safari in Kenya

9 Day Bird Watching Safari in Kenya

Kenya has recorded more than 1,100 bird species, one of the highest totals of any country in Africa, and this nine-day bird watching safari is designed to see as many habitats as possible: the open grasslands of the Masai Mara, the fresh and soda lakes of the Rift Valley, the forests of the Aberdares, and the dry thornbush of Samburu in the north.

Each habitat brings different birds, from bustards, ground hornbills and more than 50 birds of prey in the Mara to flamingos at Nakuru and Bogoria, Goliath herons and Hemprich’s hornbills at Lake Baringo, and vulturine guineafowl and Somali ostriches in Samburu. Game drives are paced for birders, with time to stop, scan and photograph, and you will see plenty of big game along the way.

Accommodation

Nights 1–2 · Masai Mara	Mara Maisha Camp
Night 3 · Lake Naivasha	Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge
Night 4 · Lake Nakuru	Egret Savannah Camp
Night 5 · Lake Bogoria	Lake Bogoria Spa Resort
Night 6 · Aberdares	The Ark
Nights 7–8 · Samburu	Samburu Simba Lodge

Itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi – Masai Mara (LD)

Leave Nairobi in the morning and drive down into the Rift Valley and on through Narok to the Masai Mara, arriving at Mara Maisha Camp near Talek Gate for lunch. Spend the afternoon birding the grasslands and the edges of the riverine forest, where Schalow’s turacos and flocks of crested guineafowl are found, before returning to camp at sunset. Dinner and overnight at Mara Maisha Camp.

Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Masai Mara Full Day Birding (FB)

A full day on the open plains, home to several species of bustard, including the kori bustard, one of the world’s heaviest flying birds, and to southern ground hornbills, more easily seen in the Mara than almost anywhere else in Kenya. More than 50 species of birds of prey have been recorded in the reserve: secretary birds stalk the grass, and bateleurs and vultures circle overhead. Along the Mara River, scan the fig trees for the rare Pel’s fishing owl. Dinner and overnight at Mara Maisha Camp.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Masai Mara – Lake Naivasha (FB)

After breakfast, drive back up into the Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake and one of Kenya’s richest birding sites, arriving at Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, explore the lakeshore and papyrus beds for African fish eagles, herons and egrets, African jacanas, purple swamphens and red-knobbed coots, with African marsh harriers hunting low over the reeds. Dinner and overnight at Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Lake Naivasha – Lake Nakuru National Park (FB)

Bird the lodge gardens after breakfast and take a boat ride to Crescent Island, then drive to Lake Nakuru National Park, arriving at Egret Savannah Camp for lunch. Nakuru’s mix of soda lake, marsh, yellow-barked acacia woodland and euphorbia forest supports more than 450 species. Depending on water levels, look for lesser and greater flamingos and great white pelicans on the lake, Cape teal and Maccoa ducks, Kittlitz’s and blacksmith plovers along the shore, and long-crested eagles, augur buzzards and lilac-breasted rollers in the woodland. Dinner and overnight at Egret Savannah Camp.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria (FB)

Leave at 7:00 AM with a packed lunch for Lake Baringo, one of only two freshwater lakes in the Kenyan Rift and home to more than 470 bird species. Its specialities include Goliath herons, Hemprich’s and Jackson’s hornbills, bristle-crowned starlings and white-crested helmetshrikes, and a boat ride gets you close to fish eagles hunting over the water. In the afternoon, drive south to Lake Bogoria, a soda lake below a steep escarpment, with hot springs and geysers along its western shore and, depending on conditions, large flocks of lesser flamingos. Dinner and overnight at Lake Bogoria Spa Resort.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Lake Bogoria – Aberdare National Park (FB)

After breakfast, drive east via Thomson’s Falls to the Aberdare Country Club for lunch. Leave your main luggage here and take a small overnight bag up to The Ark, a lodge in the mountain forest above a waterhole and salt lick. Watch from the viewing decks for forest birds such as Hartlaub’s turacos and sunbirds, and for elephants, buffalo, bushbuck and giant forest hogs that come to drink after dark. Dinner and overnight at The Ark.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Aberdares – Samburu National Reserve (FB)

After breakfast, collect your luggage and drive north past Mount Kenya into Samburu, arriving at Samburu Simba Lodge for lunch. The dry-country birdlife here is colourful and abundant, and it is quite possible to see more than a hundred species in a day. In the afternoon, watch for flocks of helmeted and vulturine guineafowl coming down to the Ewaso Nyiro River to drink, the vulturine with its striking blue breast. Dinner and overnight at Samburu Simba Lodge.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Samburu Full Day Birding (FB)

Start before breakfast and spend the day birding Samburu and the neighbouring Buffalo Springs Reserve, where sandgrouse and doves gather in their thousands to drink in the dry season. Look for Somali ostriches, golden-breasted starlings and the tiny pygmy falcon, often perched high in an acacia, and for martial eagles watching from a vantage point for dik-dik or guineafowl. Samburu’s mammals, such as reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra and gerenuk, are a bonus. Dinner and overnight at Samburu Simba Lodge.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Samburu – Nairobi (B)

After breakfast, bird your way out of the reserve and drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the late afternoon for drop-off at your hotel or the airport.

Breakfast

Optional Activities

• Hot air balloon safari over the Masai Mara – US$ 450 per adult, US$ 300 per child
• Maasai village visit – US$ 25 per person

Package Includes

• All park entrance fees
• Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
• 1.5 litres of bottled water per person per day in the vehicle
• Services of an English-speaking, experienced driver-guide
• Transport in a 4×4 safari Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, for your exclusive use throughout the trip
• Airport transfers in Nairobi
• All government taxes and levies
• Safari accessories (first aid kit, cooler box and fire extinguisher), a 24-hour emergency number and RF radio in all safari vehicles
• Birding guide
• Boat ride on Lake Baringo
• Boat ride on Lake Naivasha and Crescent Island walking safari

Package Excludes

• Flying Doctors (AMREF) air ambulance evacuation cover – US$ 10 per person
• Hot air balloon safari and Maasai village visit
• Driver tips
• Drinks, international flights, visas, travel insurance and personal expenses

Similar Safaris

9 Day Kenya Birding Safari: Lake Magadi, Naivasha, Nakuru, Baringo, Samburu & Mount Kenya9 days · Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha +3From $1,989 pp11 Day Kenya Safari: Samburu, Aberdares, Lake Baringo, Nakuru, Naivasha, Amboseli & Tsavo East11 days · Amboseli, Tsavo East, Samburu +4From $2,439 pp7 Day Welcome to Kenya Safari: Aberdares, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru, Naivasha & Masai Mara7 days · Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha +2From $1,645 pp